In my dream, I saw a black man wandering along The Jericho Road, a detour from the King’s Highway. He was several miles outside of The City of Destruction and he was on his way to the Celestial City. On his back he carried two large burdens. His eyes rested upon the pages of a well-worn book that sat in the palms of his hands.
Briefly lifting his eyes from his book, he spotted the silhouettes of three figures approaching in the distance headed back towards the City. He’d heard about robbers on this road, but who were these men? As they made their way closer to him, he thought they might be able to provide him some assistance to help him get back on his way.
Salem: Good afternoon, fellas. I’m Salem. I’m coming from The City of Destruction but I’m headed to the Celestial City and somehow I ended up on this path that doesn’t seem like one many have traveled. I was wondering if you might help me find my way.
Partiality: How’s it going, friend? I’m Partiality, this is Indifference, and Respectability Politics. You don’t look like you’d be coming from The City of Destruction. What part of the city are you from? And why are you leaving?
Salem: I lived on the Southside of the Wall of Hostility (a wall that runs through the middle of city and around its borders . This wall has divided the city and many different peoples in it for centuries and still stands (Eph 2:14)). I’m leaving because the city, it’s king, and it’s divisions have sought to destroy the lives of my people. It’s made promises to change and hasn’t, so I’m leaving hoping to find a better home and a better King in the Celestial City.
Partiality: I’ve never been to the Southside of the Wall before, although I’ve heard it isn’t really a great part of the city, is it?
Salem: Is that a question?
Indifference: Relax, Partiality. Our city has a bad history of division, but things are different now. The city has changed, but I would argue that people South of the Wall just don’t have the tools and resources to do better for themselves.
Respectability: But look at this man, guys; he’s dressed fairly well, he’s pretty articulate, and he’s even got a Book with him. I’d say he’s not like most of the others I’ve heard about from that part of the city. Look, we’ll help you out. Just do what I say and you’ll be back on the right path in no time.
Salem: Thanks, I guess. Speaking of my Book, I was actually just reading about why the city is called Destruction. Have you heard about this?
Partiality: No, but I have heard about the man who left centuries ago who said the City was destined for wrath. Nobody ever saw him again.
Salem: That’s one reason, but do you know why it’s destined for wrath?
All three men quietly anticipated his response in their ignorance.
Salem: It’s because the city destroys its citizens. The city’s fate is destruction because it’s foundation is destruction. Heavenly wrath is going to destroy the city because human wrath divides the city (Amos 2:6-7; Isa 5:8-13; Micah 2:1-6; Rev 18). I’ve experienced this first hand. My people, and so many others have been oppressed so badly in that city - even to this day - it’s frustrating to even think about, and that’s why I left. The City of Destruction has placed one of these great burdens on my back and it’s residents have fastened the other to it.
Partiality: Two? I only see one burden.
Indifference: Now, wait. I’ve lived in the city my entire life, and I, along with many others have lived very comfortably. There are many opportunities to thrive and flourish. I know things aren’t the same for everyone, but I find it hard to believe the city is actually destroying people these days.
Respectability: Exactly, maybe you and your people just need to try harder to take advantage of the opportunities the city has to offer.
Salem:*muttering to himself* ...and I wonder what side of the wall y'all live on?
Fellas, the City of Destruction destroys everyone, some just experience it differently than others. I have experienced the city’s destruction on my soul, but I, and many others, have experienced it’s destruction in our bodies and minds as well - many times at the hands of it’s residents; while those who have tried to destroy us - although comfortable now, are actually being destroyed in their comfort (James 5:1-6).
Respectability: I disagree. I think your people just need to stop focusing on the past and start making better decisions with their lives. All it takes to be successful in our city is…
Salem (interrupting Respectability): Do you not think people are working hard on the other side of the wall? Have any of you ever even talked to anyone on the other side of the wall?
Partiality: I don’t need to know anyone on the other side of the wall in order to know the truth about the city and it’s residents. What you’re saying doesn’t align with the facts I’ve seen about the city or my experiences or the things I’ve been told by the people I respect.
Respectability: ...and where are you getting all this nonsense from anyways? I thought you might be more of a reasonable person. You seem set on destroying the reputation of the city.
Salem: I’m not trying to destroy the city; I’m leaving it...but the city is going to be destroyed - for its destruction. Everything I’m telling you I read about in this Book. It’s the same one the man had who went to the Celestial City so long ago.
Partiality: Impossible! I have a copy of that book and it says nothing like that. Plus, I’ve heard that your people from the Southside of the Wall don’t always interpret that Book correctly anyways.
Salem: And you have, friend? Look guys, since picking up this Book, I’ve seen that I needed to flee the wrath of the city, including the wrath of its residents. The King of the Celestial City will destroy the city and tear down the Wall of Hostility. He promises to remove both this burden of sin that I bear and this undignifying burden that the city’s placed on me. Will you help me on my journey?
Respectability: Certainly. Firstly, you just need to stop blaming your problems on the City of Destruction and it’s citizens. Secondly, turn around, come back with us, and let me introduce you to my cousins, Personal Reponsibility and Assimilation. He can give you a house in my neighborhood, an education, a respectable job, a wife and a family, and then this invisible burden that you speak of will be gone. You’ll see that it was never really there in the first place. And then, you will be in much better shape to travel to the Celestial City.
Partiality: Agreed, Respectability. Listen, Salem, I’m an eye doctor and what I can offer you are prescription lenses that will help you to see only things of importance. I have some on right now actually. I see neither color or condition, only character, and all I see you doing is playing the victim making excuses for yourself.
Indifference: Listen, friend. Just come back to the city with us and give it another chance. Things have really changed, and yes, I agree, the City of Destruction still needs to change, it’s just going to take time. Just wait. Wait for new Councilmen to be appointed and wait for the courts to pass the necessary laws. Don’t you have any faith in law and order and the city’s system of government? Has progress not been made already?
Salem: Thanks guys, but I really need to be on my way. It’s clear that you’re only seeing what you want to see and that seems to be that I am the problem and responsible for plight. I need to prove myself to you. All of your solutions depend on me doing something instead of the city and its leaders who have caused me this harm, so I’ll just use my energy to continue down this road until I reach the next town and eventually the Celestial City.
Salem continues walking along The Jericho Road and in the distance ahead, Evangelist King steps out of the thicket of trees lining the road.
Evangelist King: For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never."1
Salem: Yes, I cannot continue to wait in the city that destroys me and my people. I can’t keep waiting for the city to change. I’m looking for something more, but I wonder if something better is really even out there? Why is it that these men could only see one of my burdens and they couldn’t fully understand my experiencing the other?
Evangelist King: Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.2
Salem: Wow! I heard there were robbers on this road and that this path was dangerous, but these men were so cordial and at times convincing. Still, amidst all their knowledge, I found their ignorance appalling and hurtful.
Evangelist King: Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. Had you been persuaded by them to return to the City, they would have stripped you of your selfhood and robbed you of your dignity. 3
These men were from Moderate County, a suburb located just outside of the city. They work for City Councilman Complacency who is dedicated to preserving the division of the city as it has been.
Salem: Where do I go from here?
Evangelist King: Continue traveling the Jericho Road until you get to the King’s Highway. The mercenary Injustice often wanders this path looking for victims. Watch out. Next, keep looking towards the City, “the line of progress is never straight. For a period a movement may follow a straight line and then it encounters obstacles and the path bends. It is like curving around a mountain when you are approaching a city. Often it feels as though you were moving backwards, and you lose sight of your goal: but in fact you are moving ahead, and soon you will see the city again, closer by.” 4
https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
Ibid.,
https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety
King, Martin L., Where Do We Go From Here?: Chaos or Community., Beacon Press, 2010